Sharing a bedroom.

Chapter 9: Night and day.

By nightfall, both Fenrir and Jade had parted ways as quietly as they had come together. No witnesses saw them, no questions asked, and no whispers followed them, and yet neither of them had truly wanted to leave. What had begun as a fleeting escape onto the balcony had stretched into something far more dangerous; lingering touches, stolen kisses, the kind of quiet tenderness that did not belong in a place like Outworld, but now it did. Slowly, steadily, it was taking root. It had taken effort, more than either of them would ever admit, to finally walk away from one another.

The palace, as always, fell into its familiar silence. A silence Fenrir was still learning to live with. It was not peaceful; it was watchful. Every corridor lay draped in dim torchlight, every shadow stretching too far along obsidian walls like something alive. Outworld never truly slept…It waited.

Fenrir followed his now-established routine before going to bed. First, he visited Kitana. Their exchanges were measured, calm, respectful…almost diplomatic even in private. There was warmth there, yes, but it was restrained, deliberate. Like two rulers testing the limits of trust without ever fully surrendering to it. Kitana never wasted a word; Every glance, every shift in tone and every silence carried meaning. She watched him not just as a man, but as an emperor; judging, weighing…deciding. And he respected her for it… perhaps more than he should. Yet despite all of that testing and judging, Kitana had grown to like Fenrir more and more these last two weeks…perhaps on a deeper level like her fellow queens.

Every corridor was dimly lit by torchlight, every shadow stretched just a little too far along obsidian walls. Outworld never truly slept; it merely waited.
Then came Mileena, and everything changed.

With Mileena, there were no masks. No restraint…No distance. Passion burned hot and immediate, fierce in a way that left no room for hesitation. Where Kitana was composed, Mileena was a passionate fire. Where Kitana calculated, Mileena acted. She didn’t question what she felt; she took it, claimed it and held onto it with both hands as if it might be torn away at any moment.

And sometimes… she did.

He had begun to notice it in the past days, the way her grip lingered just a second longer than necessary when she touched him, the way her eyes followed him when he moved, sharp and searching, as if waiting for something to change. As if expecting him to disappear. Even in their quieter moments, when the fire dimmed, and her body relaxed against his, there was always something beneath the surface. A tension… A need.

A fear.

She never spoke of it, but he could feel it. The way she held him in sleep, fingers tightening unconsciously against his skin. The way her breathing would shift if he so much as moved away. Mileena did not trust the world to let her keep what she had found, and perhaps, deep down, she did not trust herself either.
And that made what they had… fragile.

For the past two weeks, it had become routine. An hour in her chambers where they shared heat, breath, and laughter. Moments that blurred the line between desire and something far deeper neither of them dared name aloud, yet in some moments…they did. It was love; Raw, passionate and caring. Afterwards came the stillness. Limbs tangled; voices softened… the storm settling into something almost gentle. Those were the moments that stayed with him. Not the fire… but what came after.
It was easy to lose himself there…Too easy.

Because Mileena didn’t hold back, and when he was with her… neither did he.

Each night was a dance of instinct and surrender, of sharp edges and soft landings. And somewhere within that chaos, something real had begun to form. Something dangerous and beautiful…just like her.

Afterwards, he bathed, letting the water cool his skin, but not his thoughts. By the time he returned to his chambers, the palace had fully surrendered to the night.
He should have been exhausted; His body certainly was. But as he lay back against the edge of his bed, staring up at the darkened ceiling, sleep refused to come.
Because now, in the quiet… There was no distraction left.

Only truth.

Kitana… Mileena… Jade… Three names that meant deeply to him. Three different worlds he shared.

Kitana was on duty. She was precision and legacy. An Edenian queen in every sense of the word. With her, he had to be better, sharper, wiser and more controlled. She would not follow weakness; she would not forgive failure. If he faltered, she would see it… and worse, she would remember it. She respected strength, but above all, she respected being just and kind. Outworld didn’t need strength and fear anymore; it needed an emperor. And the stability and hope that came with a figure that imposed radiance rather than dread.

Mileena was intense. Emotion without filter. She gave everything she had, and in return, she demanded everything back, even if she never said it out loud. Losing her would not be quiet; it would not be graceful. It would be fire and teeth and blood…And the worst part?
He wasn’t sure she would survive it…Neither would he.

And Jade…His chest tightened.

Jade was something else entirely.

She was balanced, calm and understanding. With her, he could breathe. With her, silence wasn’t heavy; it was shared. There was no performance, no expectation, no pressure to be anything other than himself. And that… that was the most dangerous thing of all.

Because he didn’t need it; He Wanted it.

And that made it real.

Fenrir exhaled slowly, dragging a hand over his face. “What the hell am I doing…?” he murmured under his breath.

He wasn’t naïve. He knew exactly what this looked like. Three queens…One emperor. A structure **** into existence by the Elder Gods themselves. Political balance, stability and control.

That was what it was supposed to be…But this?

This was slipping beyond that.

Because it was no longer just duty with Kitana. No longer just passion with Mileena. No longer just curiosity and promise with Jade.

It was becoming something else; something personal.

And that was where everything could fall apart.

His mind began to race, sharper now, colder. If the court noticed… if even a hint of favouritism surfaced, it would fracture everything he was trying to build. Outworld did not forgive imbalance, not among its rulers. The Tarkatans, the Shokan, the Osh-Tekk… they would watch, and they would question. They would choose sides.

If Kitana believed herself sidelined, not as a woman, but as a queen, he would lose more than her trust. He would lose Edenia’s quiet support. And that… that would cost him far more than he could afford. And above all else, he didn’t want to lose her either.

If Mileena felt betrayed by him, then he would know reprisal. Mileena deep down loved him, and he couldn’t break the heart and trust she placed in him with care and vulnerability under his eyes. She wanted to make Outworld a better place. But more than that, she wanted him to stay by her side till the end.

And Jade… Jade knew what she was doing. She wasn’t blind to this; she had stepped into it willingly, confidently, as if daring the consequences to come for her. They both made a promise to each other in heart and duty. One that neither would allow to be broken in a lie.

And the worst part? He hadn’t stopped her.

Because he didn’t want to, he wanted her, and in the end…she did as well. There was a quiet but powerful connection between them, one that was tied by a destiny that neither of them knew what it was. Even Kronika didn’t, yet she felt it was vital for the future not only of Outworld…but to the realms.

Fenrir let out a slow breath, his jaw tightening. “This isn’t strategy anymore…” he muttered. “…this is real.”

And real things broke. Real things bled. If he failed, not just as emperor, but as this… whatever this was. He wouldn’t just lose power.

He would lose them.
And that thought settled heavy in his chest, colder than anything Outworld’s night could offer. “I can’t screw this up…” he whispered, more to himself than anything else.
But for the first time since taking the throne… he wasn’t sure that was something he could control.

He closed his eyes, forcing his body to relax, willing sleep to take him.

It came slowly, reluctantly.

Until voices broke through the silence. Muffled and distant at first…Then clearer…Closer.

Fenrir's eyes opened again, his brow furrowing slightly as he turned his head toward the door. The voices were familiar, too familiar.
And very much awake.

“I’m telling you, I want to speak with him,” Jade said, her voice controlled but edged with impatience as she stood before the closed doors to Fenrir's chambers.

“I already told you, my queen,” Skarlet replied, positioning herself firmly in front of the door, arms loosely at her sides but ready if needed. “He’s asleep. I am guarding his chambers. That is my duty.”

Jade’s brow arched slightly, her gaze sharpening as she studied her. “Your duty?” she repeated, slow and deliberate. “Since when do you stand watch outside a ruler’s door at night? I don’t recall you ever doing that for Shao Kahn.”

The name lingered in the air like something sour. Skarlet felt it immediately, the weight of it pressing against her thoughts. For a brief moment, her posture stiffened.

“This is different,” she answered, a little too quickly.

Jade caught it. Of course she did. She stepped closer, her emerald eyes glinting with quiet amusement and something far more perceptive beneath. “Different… how?” she asked softly. “You know as well as I do that no one reaches him without being seen; the palace is secured. So I’ll ask again… why are you here?”

Skarlet held her gaze, but she could feel the heat rising beneath her mask. It annoyed her, this reaction…this lack of control. She wasn’t used to being read so easily.
“Because I want to be close to him.” The thought came uninvited, sharp and honest.

It unsettled her.

For weeks now, she had found herself drifting closer to Fenrir. Not out of obligation or out of command, but by choice. Watching him, listening to him, learning the strange rhythm of a ruler who did not command through fear, but through presence. He spoke to her, not as a weapon or a tool; Not as something owned, but as a person.

Shao Kahn had never done that.

Shao Kahn had taken. Fenrir… asked.

And somehow, that made him far more intriguing to her, intoxicating even.

“I am ensuring his safety,” Skarlet said finally, her tone steadier now, though quieter. “Nothing more.”

Jade hummed, unconvinced. She tilted her head slightly, studying her like one might observe a puzzle already halfway solved. “You’re lying,” she said simply, though there was no malice in it, only curiosity. “Not well, either.”

Skarlet’s eyes narrowed faintly. “Careful, Jade.”

“What?” Jade’s lips curved into a faint smirk. “You’ll deny it harder?” Jade took another step closer, her voice lowering just slightly. “You’re watching him,” she said. “Not as a guard… but as something else.” Her gaze flickered briefly over Skarlet’s posture, her stance, the subtle tension in her shoulders. “You want him safe, yes… but not just because he is your emperor.”

Skarlet didn’t respond immediately because she couldn’t. A subtle blush grew in her cheeks.

The truth was there, sharp and undeniable. She felt it every time he spoke to her, every time his presence lingered just a second longer than necessary, every time his scent, his blood, brushed against her senses.

It was wrong…It had to be. Loyalty did not feel like this; Not the kind she had known before. Her loyalty to Shao Kahn had been forged in blood and control. This… this was something else entirely. Something she did not understand, it was an attraction born from feelings. It scared her…but it was intoxicating, she needed more and more each day. Being around him only heightened that need.

“You assume too much,” Skarlet said at last, though the edge in her voice lacked conviction.

Jade’s smile softened, just slightly. Not mocking, knowing. Skarlet was attracted to Fenrir, physically… and perhaps little by little, emotionally.
“I recognise it,” she said. “Because I felt it too.”

That made Skarlet’s gaze snap back to her. For a moment, something flickered between them, an understanding neither had expected to share.

Jade straightened, her tone lightening again, though her eyes remained sharp. “So,” she added casually, “are you going to let me speak with him? Or are you going to keep pretending this is just about duty?”

Skarlet tried her best to avoid his questions; she didn’t even have the answers for herself. How could she give her what she wanted?

“I’m sorry, my lady, but I—”

The doors opened.

Fenrir stood there, half-lidded eyes adjusting to the light, his posture relaxed with the heaviness of interrupted sleep. He wore only his black pants, his chest bare, faint traces of fatigue still clinging to his expression as he ran a hand through his hair and exhaled.

“What’s going on…?” he asked, voice low and rough with sleep.

Silence followed, and both women stared captivated at the handsome and arousing sight in front of them.

They liked the view… a lot. Both of them blushed at the sight of his toned, athletic yet slim physique. Fenrir was something to be appreciated; he was very handsome in his facial features already, but his body was something else. It was a sweet to sore eyes, beautiful in form and impressive in physique. It had small scars from battles and some even from different creatures, making it easy to tell that he was a seasoned and skilled warrior and fighter.

Jade’s lips parted slightly, though her expression quickly shifted into a knowing grin. Skarlet, however, didn’t move at all. She felt it before she even understood it.
The scent…His blood. It was stronger now, unobstructed, raw in a way that hit her senses like a sudden pull. Human… yes. But layered with something deeper, darker. Something ancient. It stirred something instinctive within her, something she had spent years mastering, controlling.

Hunger, not just for blood…For him.

Her gaze traced over him without permission, over the lines of muscle shaped by battle, the faint scars scattered across his chest and shoulders. Each one told a story. Each one made him… real and intriguing.

She felt alive and **** watching him. Her fingers twitched ever so slightly at her side; her body felt warm.

Skarlet stared at him for longer; she didn’t know what to think or say anymore. She would never have expected to see him like this; it only made her mind and eyes have an even better image of him… And she adored it. He was everything she could want from her partner; Strong, handsome and intoxicating to her senses. If she felt warm imagining mental images of him, then now she knew exactly how he looked underneath and… he didn’t disappoint in the slightest.

Jade recovered first, her smirk returning as she crossed her arms lightly. “Well,” she said, tone amused, “this is certainly a better reception than I expected.”
Fenrir blinked, still waking. “Jade?” His gaze shifted between them. “Skarlet… why are you both—”

“You have scars,” Jade interrupted suddenly, stepping forward just enough to get a closer look, her tone shifting into something more curious. Her fingers hovered near one across his shoulder, but didn’t touch. “More than I thought.”

Fenrir glanced down briefly, then back at her, unfazed. “Comes with the job,” he replied.

“That one,” she added, pointing slightly toward a deeper mark along his side. “That wasn’t just a fight.”

“No,” he admitted, a faint, almost distant look crossing his face. “It wasn’t.”

Jade studied him for a moment longer, then smiled faintly. “Good,” she said.

He frowned slightly. “Good?”

“It means you’ve survived worse than politics,” she replied lightly.

A quiet huff of amusement escaped him.

Behind her, Skarlet remained still, her gaze locked on him, her thoughts anything but steady. “Why him? Why does he feel different?” This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. She was forged for control, for precision, for purpose. Desire was a tool, not a weakness.

“So why did this feel like neither?” Her jaw tightened slightly beneath her mask. “And why… does it feel like I want more?”

Jade glanced back at her then, catching the shift, the intensity in her stare. For a brief moment, something unspoken passed between them again, not rivalry… but something that gave Jade an idea for the future.

Fenrir noticed it too. His gaze flickered between them, sharper now despite the lingering haze of sleep. “…Did I interrupt something?” he asked.
Jade smirked. “Only Skarlet’s very dedicated ‘guard duty.’”

Skarlet’s eyes narrowed faintly, but she didn’t deny it this time.

Fenrir raised a brow, glancing at her. “Guard duty, huh?”

“…Someone has to make sure you don’t get yourself killed in your sleep,” she replied, her voice quieter now, more grounded.

There was something honest in it, Something that made him pause.

“…I told you I don’t need it,” he said softly, without punishment but amusement at Skarlet's persistence.

Jade, on the other hand, blushed faintly at the sight of him, though her reaction settled into a confident, knowing grin far more quickly than Skarlet’s. She had already made her decision about him long before this moment, but the view in front of her only reaffirmed it…Which reminded her of why she came here.
“Anyhow, what are you doing, he—” Her response came in the form of action rather than words. She tossed a leather duffel bag straight at his chest.

Fenrir barely had time to react before catching it with a confused grunt, the weight of it snapping him fully awake. He blinked at her, then at the bag, then back at her again, completely thrown off.

Jade didn’t explain. She simply walked past him as if she belonged there, which, in her mind, she already did.

Fenrir turned instinctively toward Skarlet for answers, but she only gave him a small shrug, though her eyes lingered on him a second longer than necessary before she looked away. He hesitated for a moment, then gave her a subtle nod.

That was enough. Skarlet bowed slightly and stepped back, closing the door behind her.

But she didn’t leave; Not immediately.

She remained just outside, hand still resting lightly against the wood, her presence blending with the shadows of the corridor. Inside, muffled voices began almost instantly: Jade’s light, confident tone, Fenrir's confused but amused replies.

Then… a faint laugh. But it didn’t come from the room, but from her.

Perhaps…it wouldn’t be so bad to see the emperor with different eyes from now on.

Inside the room, Fenrir stood there, still holding the bag, his expression caught somewhere between disbelief and curiosity. “Jade,” he said slowly, running a hand through his hair as he tried to piece together what was happening, “what the hell is going on?”

“Sorry for bursting in,” she replied casually, already surveying the room as if conducting an inspection. “Didn’t feel like freezing outside.”

“That explains the discussion,” he said dryly, “That doesn’t explain why you are here at 11 pm in the middle of the night with a bag full of stuff, that you threw at me, half-asleep, might I add.”

She ignored that entirely, preferring to focus on the room. It was a mess… an empty mess, though. He was clearly rearranging everything, but it still looked terrible in many aspects, more like a cave than a lively bedroom an emperor should have.

“Fenrir,” she said instead, turning in a slow circle as her eyes scanned every corner of the chamber, “this is a disaster.”

He blinked. “Excuse me?”

“There is no way,” she continued, gesturing lightly around them, “that I am letting you sleep in our bedroom like this.”

He stepped forward quickly, still clutching the bag. “Hey! This is progress, thank you very much. You should have seen it when I got here. There were skulls, Jade. Actual skulls. I cleaned all of that. I—” He paused mid-sentence, eyes narrowing slightly. “…wait. Did you just say our bedroom?”

She turned back to him with a small, satisfied smile, taking the bag from his arms. “Yes. Ours.”
She placed it on the bed and began unpacking it with calm efficiency, pulling out a few essentials: clothes, small personal items and her staff, reduced in size when idle, carefully set aside.

Fenrir just stared.

“I figured,” she continued, glancing at him briefly, “since we are officially together now… it would make sense.” Her tone softened slightly, though her confidence never wavered. “Queen and emperor. We might as well start acting like it.”

He rubbed his temple, exhaling a quiet breath, trying to catch up. “I… don’t even know what to say.”

“That’s a first,” she teased lightly.

“I mean it,” he said, letting out a small, almost disbelieving laugh. “I was going to suggest this eventually. Just… not tonight. Not after…” He trailed off, clearly thinking back to the balcony.

Jade stepped closer, her expression softening just enough to show the warmth beneath the teasing. “You hesitate too much,” she murmured, reaching up to gently brush her fingers along his cheek. “Some things don’t need planning.”

“You are so cute when you get nervous.” She kissed him briefly, soft, warm and grounding before pulling back with a small smirk. “Idiot.”

Fenrir huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah… I’m starting to notice a pattern with you.”

“Good,” she replied, turning away again to finish unpacking. “That means you’re paying attention.”

Fenrir watched her for a moment, then gestured around. “So that bag has just the essentials?”

“For now,” she replied. “I’ll bring the rest over the next few days.”

He smirked. “You say that like I have a choice.”

“You don’t.”

“…Fair.”

She moved around the room, scanning everything with a critical eye, already planning changes. “We’ll fix this,” she added. “Colours, structure, something that doesn’t scream ‘tyrant with a skull obsession.’”

“That’s a very specific aesthetic critique.”

“I’m very specific.”

He watched her for a moment, then glanced around the room, suddenly seeing it through her eyes. “…It’s really that bad?”

“It’s functional,” she said diplomatically. “For an outsider, not for a ruler that is.” She paused, glancing over her shoulder with a faint smirk. “Don’t worry; I’ll fix it.”
He raised his hands slightly in surrender. “I have no doubt.”

She picked up a dark nightgown from the bag, examining it briefly before looking back at him. “Now,” she said, gesturing lightly, “is there somewhere I can change?”
Fenrir blinked, then quickly turned his head away, a faint blush creeping up his neck. “Right…uh, curtain. Left corner. I’ll… look the other way.”

“How noble of you,” she said, already walking toward it. “And here I thought chivalry was long dead in Outworld.”

As she disappeared behind the curtain, Fenrir turned his back fully, folding his arms loosely as he tried, unsuccessfully, not to think about the beautiful and perfectly curved silhouette shifting faintly in the firelight behind the fabric.

“You know,” he said after a moment, his voice steadier now, “this is definitely not how I expected my night to go.”

A soft laugh came from behind the curtain. “And yet, you’re not complaining.”

“…I’m processing,” he replied.

“You’re doing a poor job of hiding it,” she teased.

He smirked slightly, though his gaze stayed fixed ahead. “I never said I was trying very hard.”

There was a brief pause, the quiet sound of fabric shifting, then her voice again, softer this time. “You don’t have to be careful with me all the time, you know.”

He didn’t answer immediately. Because she wasn’t entirely wrong…But she also wasn’t entirely right.

Kitana’s composed, watchful gaze flickered briefly through his mind; sharp, perceptive, always aware. He could almost hear her voice, calm and measured, questioning his choices.

Jade stepped out from behind the curtain. And the thought disappeared.

Fenrir turned, and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe. The nightgown fit her perfectly, its dark fabric tracing her form in a way that was both elegant and dangerously distracting. The firelight caught along the edges, highlighting the soft curves of her body, the strength beneath her grace. Her hair fell freely down her back, framing her face in a way that made her eyes stand out even more, those deep emerald eyes that held both warmth and mischief in equal measure.

“Wow…” he muttered under his breath.

Jade smiled, clearly pleased with the reaction. “I’ll take that as approval.”

“You can take it as understatement,” he replied.

Her gaze flicked briefly over him again, lingering just a second longer this time. “You’re still not wearing a shirt.”

He glanced down, then shrugged lightly. “Didn’t think I’d have an audience.”

“I’m not complaining,” she said, stepping closer to the bed.

She ran her fingers lightly over the sheets, then sat, easing herself back with effortless grace before turning her head toward him. “Are you coming, or are you just going to stand there admiring your own room?”

He chuckled and joined her, settling onto the opposite side of the bed. There was space between them. Deliberate…unspoken, but the air felt anything but distant.

They turned toward each other. For a moment, neither spoke.

Then she smiled. “Well,” he said softly, “you got what you wanted.”

“Mm,” she replied, her tone light but satisfied. “I usually do.” There was a pause. Then she added, casually, “You do know nothing is going to happen tonight… right?”

Fenrir let out a quiet breath through his nose, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Of course. He had expected it.

But that didn’t mean he didn’t feel it; the pull, the temptation, the way his gaze lingered just a second too long, the instinct urging him closer.
“Wasn’t counting on it,” he said calmly, meeting her gaze. “I’m fine just being here with you, gorgeous.”

Jade studied him for a moment, her expression shifting slightly; not teasing now, but thoughtful and measured.

Then she smirked again, though softer this time. “Good answer.”

He raised a brow. “You are still testing me?”

“Maybe,” she admitted.

He chuckled, though his gaze didn’t waver. “You’re not the only one thinking ahead.”

Her fingers brushed lightly against his hand, then, slow and deliberate. “Oh, I know.”

He leaned in just slightly, his voice lowering. “Kitana wouldn’t approve, would she?”

Jade’s smile turned more playful, more dangerous. “You’d be surprised,” she murmured. “With the right words… she might not just approve.” A brief pause was allowed to cut the air like a seductive knife. “She might even join us one day.”

He blinked, caught off guard for the first time in minutes. “…You’re impossible.”

“And you like it,” she replied without hesitation.

He couldn’t argue that. Silence settled again, softer this time.

She caressed his hand tenderly, her fingers tracing slow, absent-minded patterns against his skin, equal parts affectionate and teasing. “Well…” she began, her voice softer now, more curious than playful, “you probably found yourself in many situations like this back on Earthrealm. A man of your appearance and charm would surely have many people interested in you romantically.” A small smirk tugged at her lips. “I know you got me head over heels in many ways.”

Fenrir chuckled under his breath, the sound low and warm. “You would be surprised, actually. I never had much luck in the romance department.”

Jade raised a brow, clearly unconvinced. Ready to tease him.

He caught it instantly. “…I’m not a virgin, Jade,” he added dryly.

She hid a small laugh, her shoulders shifting slightly against the sheets. “I never said you were.”

“You were thinking it.”

“…maybe,” she admitted with a teasing glint in her eyes. Then, softer, more genuine, “Come on. Tell me more about yourself. You clearly had a life before arriving here in Outworld.”

“You are interested?” he asked, something warmer settling in his tone.

“Of course,” she replied without hesitation. “Earthrealm is… strange to us. All of this is.” She gestured faintly around them, though her eyes remained on him.
“Learning about it through you, and about you, sounds far more interesting than any scroll or report.”

Fenrir studied her for a moment, then smiled faintly. “Alright… but don’t expect anything too grand.”

“I’ll decide that.”

He let out a quiet breath, shifting slightly on the bed, still facing her. “Where do you want me to begin?”

Jade considered for a moment; her fingers still loosely intertwined with his. “Family,” she said simply. “Do you have any?”

The shift was immediate. Fenrir's expression didn’t harden, but it quieted, something distant passing through his eyes. “Used to,” he said. “My mother… my brother… they died a long time ago. Demons took them.” His jaw tightened faintly. “I was the only one who made it out.”

Jade didn’t interrupt; she didn’t fill the silence either.

She just squeezed his hand gently. “My condolences,” she said, her voice sincere.

“Thank you,” he replied, just as quietly.

There was a pause, not uncomfortable, but heavier now, grounded in something real.

Jade exhaled softly. “If it makes it any easier to carry…” she began, “Is not so different for us. Kitana and I… we lost our people as well. When Shao Kahn merged our realm with Outworld, most of them were scattered… or worse.”

Fenrir's gaze softened, his thumb brushing lightly against her hand in return. “Then I’ll make sure their memory is honoured,” he said. “Not just as a ruler… but properly.”

She watched him for a second longer than necessary.

“You already are,” she said. “You’re changing this place; Whether you believe it or not.”

He didn’t answer immediately. Because part of him didn’t believe it…Not yet. He needed to be better. He couldn’t fail; they all depended on him.

His thoughts drifted to Edenia, its people, its history… the merging. If it had been done once, could it be undone? Could something that old, that broken… be restored?

Kitana would know more; He’d have to speak with her.

Jade noticed the shift in him, the way his eyes grew distant, thoughtful. She didn’t press. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, choosing a different path.
“So,” she said lightly, nudging him back, “what’s Earthrealm actually like?”

Fenrir blinked, pulled back from his thoughts. “Loud,” he said with a small smile.

“Loud?”

“Depends where you are,” he clarified. “Cities especially. Too many people, too much movement and too many voices at once. But there are quieter places too; countryside, forests… places where you can actually think.”

Jade listened, her expression curious but relaxed. “And this ‘Earth’… It’s all one realm?”

“Yeah,” he said. Then paused. “…We call it a planet.”

She frowned slightly. “…planet?”

Fenrir hesitated, then glanced around before reaching for a small decorative sphere resting on a nearby table. He held it up between them. “Imagine this is Earth,” he said.

Jade looked at it… then at him.

“…So Earthrealm fits in your hand?” she asked, completely serious for half a second, before her lips curved.

Fenrir stared at her.

She laughed. “I’m joking.”

“…You’re enjoying this too much.”

“Maybe.”

He rolled his eyes, though a smile tugged at his lips. “Alright, so… people there don’t know about other realms, not really. They think everything outside their world comes from… space. Other planets.”

Jade nodded slowly, absorbing it. “So, to them… Outworld doesn’t exist.”

“Exactly. Or if it does… It’s just a story.”

“That’s… strange,” she admitted. “To live without knowing what’s beyond your own world.”

“It has its advantages,” he said. “Less war between realms, at least.”

“Until now,” she pointed out.

“…Yeah,” he agreed.

She shifted slightly closer without thinking, her tone softening again. “And the warriors? The ones we fought. They come from different… regions?”

“Countries, to be more precise,” he corrected gently. “Different cultures, laws, traditions… same world, but not the same lives.”

Jade smiled faintly. “Like Outworld’s races.”

“Yeah,” he said with a small nod, relaxing into the pillow as he faced her. “Similar idea. Just… less obvious. Humans look the same at a glance, but where they come from changes everything. How they fight, how they think, what they believe in. Some even have control over magic or special abilities.”

Her fingers traced absent patterns over his hand, thoughtful. “The monk… Liu Kang. He carried himself like a warrior-priest.”

“He is,” Fenrir replied. “He’s a Shaolin monk. They are disciplined, balanced, and controlled. Everything he does is about purpose. He fights because he has to, not because he wants to. Still, he’s the warrior we have.”

Jade hummed softly. “And Kung Lao?”

Fenrir's lips curved faintly. “Pride wrapped in discipline. He’s good… really good. But he knows it. Sometimes too much.”

She chuckled. “I noticed.”

He shifted slightly, getting more comfortable, his tone easing as the conversation flowed naturally between them. “Then you’ve got the Lin Kuei… Sub-Zero’s and Sektor’s clan. Assassins, warriors. Cold in more ways than one...Nowadays, most have turned into cyborgs, sadly…as you probably have noticed by now.”

Jade nodded, “And the other one?” she asked. “The one who burned with vengeance.”

“Scorpion,” Fenrir said, his expression dimming just a little. “He’s from a different clan… Or what’s left of it. Shirai Ryu, they were called… His story’s… complicated.”

Jade studied his face, noticing the shift. “You respect them.”

“I do,” he admitted. “They’re not like Outworld’s armies, they don’t fight because they’re told to. They choose it. That makes them… dangerous in a different way. Still, they are skilled and should be respected.”

Jade nodded slowly, absorbing that. “And the woman… Sonya Blade.”

Fenrir let out a quiet breath, a small smile forming. “Stubborn…Relentless.”

“Really beautiful as well. Could rival us Edenians if you would allow me to say.” Jade said teasingly.

“You been checking her out?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.

“…Perhaps,” She added with a blush and a seductive smirk. “It’s not every day you see an Earthrealm warrior so beautiful and skilled.”

He grinned at her, “Then, I will present her to you next time I see her. She and I have a good relationship. She’s part of something called the Special Forces.”

Jade tilted her head. “An army?”

“Sort of,” he said. “More specialised. They deal with threats most people don’t even know exist. Criminal organisations, covert operations… things that don’t make it into the public eye.”

“And she leads this?” Jade asked.

“Not entirely,” he replied. “But she’s high-ranking. Same with Jax, Jackson Briggs. He’s one of the best they’ve got, and his Sonya’s superior.”

Jade’s brow furrowed slightly. “So, they fight for their country… not for conquest?”

“Exactly,” Fenrir said. “They protect what’s theirs…Or try to.”

She considered that for a moment, her fingers still lightly intertwined with his. “And now they know about Outworld.”

“Some of them do,” he answered. “Not all. Even if they tried to tell others…” he exhaled lightly, “most wouldn’t believe it. To them, this kind of thing sounds like fiction.”

Jade smirked faintly. “I can see why.”

“Yeah,” he said with a chuckle. “Can’t exactly blame them.”

There was a brief pause, the conversation naturally slowing, settling into something softer.

“I don’t think you have to worry about them,” he added after a moment, his tone more grounded. “They’re not conquerors, not like Shao Kahn. Besides, Raiden wouldn’t allow interference unless it was necessary.”

Jade relaxed slightly at that, her shoulders easing. “Good. Outworld has had enough of **** rule and needless wars.”

Fenrir's gaze lingered on her for a second longer than necessary. “…Yeah. It has.”

Silence followed, but it wasn’t heavy. Just… quiet.

Jade let out a small breath, her head dipping slightly as a yawn escaped her despite her efforts to hide it.

Fenrir smirked. “You’re tired.”

“I am not—” she started, then stopped, exhaling with a soft laugh. “Alright… maybe a little.”

“A little,” he repeated, amused.

She nudged his hand lightly. “Don’t get smug. I was enjoying that.”

“I know,” he said gently.

Her gaze softened again; the earlier curiosity now replaced with something warmer, more personal. “We can continue tomorrow,” she murmured. “Kitana would probably want to hear all of this as well.”

At the mention of her name, Fenrir's expression shifted just slightly, subtle, but there. Jade noticed. “She would,” he admitted. “And she’d probably correct half of what I said.”

Jade smiled faintly. “Or challenge you on it.”

“…Yeah,” he huffed quietly. “That too.”

There was a brief pause before Jade added, her tone teasing again, “Unless you’d rather keep these conversations to yourself.”

He raised a brow. “Tempting… but I don’t think that would end well for me.”

“No,” she agreed softly. “It wouldn’t.”

Then, more quietly, “Still… I don’t mind sharing you.” The words were light, almost playful, but there was truth beneath them. She wasn’t just referring to the conversation, but to the alliance. She knew it was needed for him to create and keep nurturing the growing romantic bond with Mileena and Kitana as well; she wasn’t jealous in the slightest. She trusted him to take care of her either way and not lose himself in lust.

Fenrir felt it… The declaration lingered in his thoughts. “I’d rather learn more about you next time,” he said instead, his voice softer now. “Feels like a fair trade.”

Jade smiled at that. “I think I can allow that.”

Another yawn slipped past her, shorter this time, but enough.

“Alright,” she murmured, shifting slightly on the bed. “Come on. It’s late.”

Fenrir moved with her, settling into place as she adjusted, their bodies naturally drawing closer again.

There was a small pause. Then she turned her head slightly, just enough to look at him one more time.

“Thank you… for tonight.”

There was something more in her voice now. Not just gratitude. Something quieter…Something real.

Fenrir met her gaze, his expression softening in a way that came effortlessly around her. “You don’t have to thank me.”

“I do,” she insisted gently.

He didn’t argue. Instead, he reached up, his fingers brushing lightly along her cheek. “I’ll do it again tomorrow anyway.”

That earned him a small, genuine smile. “I know.”

She leaned in, pressing a soft kiss against his lips, lingering just a second longer than before. When she pulled back, she didn’t move away immediately. Her eyes stayed on his, searching, memorising.

Then, quietly, “Could we…”

“Cuddle?” he finished for her, his tone just as soft.

She nodded, almost shyly. “…yes.”

That alone said enough. Jade turned onto her side, her back to him, leaving that small, unspoken invitation.

Fenrir didn’t hesitate. He moved closer, his arm sliding around her waist, pulling her gently against him. Their bodies aligned naturally, her back fitting against his chest as if it had always belonged there. His hand found hers, fingers intertwining, grounding.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Jade exhaled slowly, her body relaxing in a way she hadn’t realised she needed. Safe. The thought came quietly, almost unfamiliar.

It was rare…yet she didn’t question it. She allowed her lower half to be pressed against his, possessive and secretive. It was a gesture of love as much as lust for him, and he knew. He shifted forward so he was returning the arousing touch of their thighs and the fabric of their underwear, leaving room for the imagination in the warmth.

Behind her, Fenrir rested his forehead lightly against her hair, breathing her in. This was different. Not the fire he shared with Mileena, not the intensity, the consuming heat mixed with passion, love and lust. This was steady. Quiet. Something that didn’t demand, didn’t take… just existed.

And somehow, that felt just as powerful.

He didn’t love one more than the other…But he felt them differently.

And that mattered.

His grip around her tightened just slightly, protective without thinking.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured.

Jade’s fingers squeezed his in response. “…I know.”

Silence settled around them again, softer now, warmer. Fenrir pressed a gentle kiss against the side of her face. “Good night, Jade.”
“…Good night, Fenrir,” she whispered back, her voice already drifting.

And for once, in a palace that never truly slept… they did.